What Are Some Old Time Church Hymns?

Popular old time church hymns include "Be Thou My Vision" and "Amazing Grace." "Be Thou My Vision" is based on the eighth century Celtic poem that was translated and put to music in 1905 by Mary Byrne.

"All Creatures of Our God and King" was written in 1225, and is one of the 60 hymns written by St. Francis of Assisi to voice his love for creation. In 1674, Thomas Ken, a Bishop in the Anglican church, wrote the "Doxology," which is typically sung without music. Robert Robinson, a troubled teenager, witnessed George Whitfield preaching, which moved him so deeply that he later became a preacher and wrote the poem "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing," which was put to music in 1813.

The most well-known church hymn is "Amazing Grace," which was originally a folk hymn written in 1773 to be used in a sermon. It was written by an English poet, John Newton, who was forced into the Royal Navy. While there, his ship was caught in the midst of a storm that he thought would take his life. He based the poem "Amazing Grace" on that experience. Although "Amazing Grace" was published in 1779, it did not become popular until the American second Great Awakening in the 19th century, when it became an African American spiritual.